Prince Karl is in love Ė with a barmaid! The ways of the heart clash with the mandates of state-arranged marriage in this regal Hollywood adaptation of the operetta by Sigmund Romberg, the composer whose life was the subject of the biopic Deep in My Heart. Edmund Purdom, lip-synching the rich singing of tenor Mario Lanza, portrays the on-screen Karl and Ann Blyth, who starred opposite Lanza in The Great Caruso, is the Heidelberg sweetheart the prince meets during what is supposed to be a final revelry before his royal wedding. Hermes Pan, choreographer of many Astaire-Rogers classics, brings Oktoberfest joy to the staging of several numbers. And letís drink, drink, drink to a supporting cast thatís particularly regal: Louis Calhern, Edmund Gwenn, John Williams, S.Z. Sakall and Betta St. John. Cheers!

**Please be aware that this is a manufactured on demand disc that was created using a DVD-R disc. It should play in all standard DVD players.

This is a great early cinemascope movie, excellently performed, even with the dubbing of Edmund Purdom with the originally scheduled Mario Lanza. Anne Blythe's singing and performance is just beautiful--what a wonderful singing voice-also great in Rose Marie and Kismet. However, this is not a remastered, refurbished or any improvement over the at least 40 year old print used 20 years ago for the Laserdisc. Same flickers, color issues, flecks, tears, you name it. What is on screen is quite acceptable but not remastered as advertised which is why I upgraded from my laserdisc--the full wide-screen is appreciated. This movie deserves a real refurbishment--so only 3 stars. However, I highly recommend this wonderful musical if you've never seen it Trivia--Lanza's tracks are recorded in Mono and then blended into the later recorded and improved stereo soundtrack. It must have driven the sound engineers crazy.

A most original production of a kind they don't make anymore. A story of love found, lost and fondly remembered; Of growing up to meet one's responsibilities; Of having fun while one can; And a story rich and entertaining without explosions, explicit sex, swearing every other word and excessive gunfire! Certainly a film for adults because younger viewers seem to need the things mentioned earlier to keep them off their smartphones and Ipads! See it for yourself if you enjoy a rich story-well told!